Stein added that this is the reason for the rumors that DeMarcus Cousins might be returning sooner than Durant. To recall, Cousins has been out since April 15 after going down with a torn left quadriceps muscle.

Helps explain why the buzz around the team in recent days has been that Cousins is closer to a return than Durant

Durant’s injury was diagnosed as a right calf strain, but analysts and players who saw the incident posited that it might be an Achilles tear — the same injury which derailed the tail end of Kobe Bryant’s career. It is something Kevin Durant can’t completely dismiss.

At press time, Kevin Durant has missed three games: Game 6 against the Houston Rockets in the West semis, and Games 1 and 2 against the Trail Blazers. The Warriors said that Durant will be re-evaluated again after a week, which means that the former league MVP will miss Game 3 in Oregon on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday.

The Warriors have performed equally well even without their leading scorer. Various analysts say that they didn’t need Kevin Durant in the first place. Nonetheless, having an elite player on your team is still an asset. Durant doesn’t just provide scoring, but he’s also a beast on the defensive end as well. Let’s see how Durant’s extended absence will affect the Warriors’ quest for a third straight title.